Ghaub and Ganachaams, near Grootfontein
In March 2018 I visited Namibia. One of my objectives was to visit Ghaub, today an attractive game lodge. A hundred years ago it was a hub of the Rhenish Mission Society in the North of Namibia. Grandfather Gerhard was assistant farm manager here, tasked to provide provisions for the Rhenish School, Theological Training Centre and Church. My father Wilhelm was born here in August 1914. I early 1915 German troops fought their last battle here before being defeated by South African Union troops. The mission station became a military field hospital. The German Governor Dr Seitz first retreated and stayed at the station only to be taken back as a prisoner of war days later.
The Lodge has now included in its brochure a glimpse of what transpired here a century earlier. I intend to expand on the story at a later time. Read about it in English and in German:
Englisch - https://www.ghaub-namibia.com/news.html
Deutsch - https://www.ghaub-namibia.com/news-de.html
In March 2018 I visited Namibia. One of my objectives was to visit Ghaub, today an attractive game lodge. A hundred years ago it was a hub of the Rhenish Mission Society in the North of Namibia. Grandfather Gerhard was assistant farm manager here, tasked to provide provisions for the Rhenish School, Theological Training Centre and Church. My father Wilhelm was born here in August 1914. I early 1915 German troops fought their last battle here before being defeated by South African Union troops. The mission station became a military field hospital. The German Governor Dr Seitz first retreated and stayed at the station only to be taken back as a prisoner of war days later.
The Lodge has now included in its brochure a glimpse of what transpired here a century earlier. I intend to expand on the story at a later time. Read about it in English and in German:
Englisch - https://www.ghaub-namibia.com/news.html
Deutsch - https://www.ghaub-namibia.com/news-de.html
Images that connect with my father,
Wilhelm Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt's generation
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Above: Front row, second from left, Wilhelm Kleinschmidt. Probably ca 1929 at school in Swakopmund
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Elizabeth and husband Eduard Storm. Elizabeth was the young sister of Helmut and Wilhelm Kleinschmidt. |
Back: Helmut Kleinschmidt, wife Mariechen, her mother Mrs Hidebrandt and Wilhelm Kleinschmidt.
Front: Alfred, Horst, Erika, Heidi and Immo, all Kleinschmidt. Place: Norwood, Johannesburg, backyard of Helmut and Mary.
Date: ca 1955
Front: Alfred, Horst, Erika, Heidi and Immo, all Kleinschmidt. Place: Norwood, Johannesburg, backyard of Helmut and Mary.
Date: ca 1955
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Elger is a second cousin to Wilhelm K. He is a grandson of Johannes Kleinschmidt.
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